For the final lesson in our "paying-the-bill" theme, we are looking at the expression ON THE HOUSE. Definition: a phrase to describe something that is free because the restaurant or bar pays.

Example 1: Your dessert is on the house because it's your birthday.

Example 2: The first round of drinks is on the house.

Example 3: If you eat at our restaurant nine times, your 10th meal is on the house. I hope you enjoyed our lessons on how to talk about paying for the bill at a restaurant. To review all of this month's Theme Thursday lessons, click on the following link.

Students are often confused about when to use a GERUND (-ing) and when to use an INFINITIVE (verb + TO), so today we are focusing on this idea. One time that we typically use a GERUND is when a verb follows a preposition, such as the construction ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + GERUND.

Example 1: I am notgood at swimming.

Example 2: Tim gets frustrated after studying maths.

Example 3: She was upset upon hearing the news.

We can also use the ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + (NOT) GERUND for sentences in the negative.